Argatroban is an anticoagulant medication that treats or prevents blood clots. It's given as a continuous infusion through the veins. This medication is typically only used in the hospital for people who have a blood clot and can't receive heparin because they have a problem called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).
Argatroban is used to treat or prevent blood clots. It's typically used in the hospital for people who have blood clots and can't receive heparin because they have a problem called heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Argatroban can also be used in people undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a procedure that opens up clogged blood vessels in the heart. If you need to continue taking an anticoagulant after leaving the hospital, your provider might prescribe an anticoagulant that's taken by mouth, such as Pradaxa (dabigatran) or warfarin (Coumadin).
Argatroban is a direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI), which is a type of anticoagulant. Thrombin is a protein found in your blood that forms blood clots. By blocking this protein, argatroban helps stop clots from forming in your body. This allows blood to flow more easily through your arteries and veins.
Argatroban is given as an injection through the veins (IV) that runs continuously. This is done by a trained healthcare provider.
The dose of argatroban varies from one person to another. This is because the dose is based on your weight, whether you have liver problems, and your activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). aPTT is a test that measures how long it takes your blood to clot. Hospitals typically have a specific argatroban protocol or program in place that outlines how to monitor and change the dose of the medication based on your aPTT level so it works well and is as safe for you as possible.
Since argatroban is a blood thinner, the most common side effect is bleeding. While you're in the hospital, your provider will monitor you closely for signs of bleeding while you're receiving argatroban. Other side effects include shortness of breath, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.